Yelm Graduates Reflect on Lasts and Firsts

Yelm High School’s Class of 2026 celebrated their graduation with over 400 students walking across the stage at the Tacoma Dome, surrounded by cheering families and teachers. Two valedictorians, Ciarra-Nicole Bratton and Sofie Miera, delivered powerful speeches — Miera’s “Rubatosis” explored the emotional weight of graduation, while Kaylee Little’s “The Last Time” reflected on life’s bittersweet “lasts.” Salutatorian Melony Blankenship emphasized resilience and the true meaning of success. Top students shared their futures: Sofie to Northeastern for neuroscience, Kaylee to George Mason for criminology, Caleb to Alaska for nursing, Elizabeth to Saint Martin’s for environmental studies, Rylan to WSU for nursing, and Alondra to ASU for biomedical sciences — each poised to make their mark in diverse fields. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fb43ea6c76b1d652